Night one of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. The Jets were the most active team of the first round, adding three players.

We won’t be able to properly grade the results for at least two years. That doesn’t stop experts from weighing in immediately, though. Let’s take a look at instant Draft grades for the first round.

As always, remember that Draft grades are stupid…unless they praise the Jets.

Others are much lower on David Bailey than we are, because you see flashes where it clicks for him. While the majority of his 14 sacks this season came from a wide alignment where he was just able to win on pure athleticism and explosiveness, which will get tougher in the NFL, there were moments where you saw a true pass-rushing plan, where he won on a spin to the inside or used a counter move to get home.

The upside with Arvell Reese is hard to ignore, and might have been a better fit for a team that needs more than a year to truly turn things around, but this is a solid pick for a team that truly needed help on the EDGE

Many believed the Jets would go wide receiver with their second pick here in the first round, with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. a popular selection for them in mock drafts. Instead they go with the athletic tight end in Sadiq, who has the potential to be a mismatch nightmare for NFL defenses. Adjusting to life in the NFL is often tough for young tight ends, but his athleticism will serve him well, and you can find moments where he handles the in-line blocking responsibilities fairly well.

Watch him on the right side here against Indiana in the run game:

While the Jets added Mason Taylor last year, you can start thinking of a 12 personnel package with him and Sadiq on the field. This could work nicely for New York.

And we have another trade, with the 49ers moving out of No. 30 — which they acquired in an earlier trade with the Miami Dolphins — and sliding back to No. 33 while the Jets come up.

Now, before I dive into the analysis, scroll up to No. 16 when the Jets drafted tight end Kenyon Sadiq and see what name was mentioned there.

The Jets work their board, come back into the first round when they need to, and draft a receiver many thought they would take at 16. He will be a perfect compliment to Garrett Wilson, and between Wilson, Sadiq, and now Cooper, suddenly this Jets passing game looks much better.

And again, I love how New York worked their board here.

Round 1 (No. 2): Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

Round 1 (No. 16): TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Round 1 (No. 30): WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

The March trade of edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II to Tennessee for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat portended an edge rusher being selected No. 2 overall. Bailey’s first step and closing speed will be a thorn in the sides of offensive tackles and quarterbacks around the league.

The Jets received the 16th overall pick in this year’s draft, along with a 2027 first-rounder, from the Colts for Sauce Gardner. The Jets took Sadiq at that spot because of his explosive athleticism and toughness after the catch. If he limits his drops and continues to give effort as a blocker, the Gardner trade could be a franchise-changing deal.  

Trading a fifth-round pick to move back into the first round for Cooper was a smart move. He could very well end up a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver due to his strength, agility and footwork on the sideline. Finding him at 30 is excellent value.

The Jets made three picks Thursday, starting with edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2. I personally would have preferred Arvell Reese there, but I can’t argue with Bailey’s bend, burst and production. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq was an interesting selection in the middle of the round — he’s an after-the-catch maverick with explosive traits — and landing receiver Omar Cooper Jr. back at No. 30 after trading back into the first will absolutely boost this lackluster receivers room behind Garrett Wilson. Three good players for New York.

The best pure pass rusher in the draft, Bailey (6-3, 251, with 34-inch arms) has a deep array of pass-rush moves that is better than any other edge in this class. Long, lean and explosive, Bailey got better during every season of his college career and should be an immediate force rushing the QB.